“[Nail] products had $14.2 million in department store sales from January through August, up 61% from 2010. Nail salon sales have risen, as well. Caitlin Moldvay [a market researcher] says: ‘Spending on a manicure they can get for a fairly low price is one way to indulge without breaking the bank.’”

And therein lays the keystone for these otherwise strange, upwardly moving numbers. I say in my seminars that each person I talk to works hard at their job, looking for a job, or studying in school. These days, people are not struggling because they lack the effort. It’s tough out there. So we have to figure out how to spend our money in ways that make us feel alive, while not racking up [more] debt.

Setting aside a preset amount of money for fun stuff is important. Let’s say within your budget you can set aside $20 of play money a week. Maybe you love getting a manicure. Or buying some OPI polish and giving yourself that mani-pedi. Maybe you save up 2 week’s worth of your fun money because you’re going to dress Fluffy up like a shark for Halloween, because who doesn’t love shark week?

The key is to NOT spend more than you’ve allotted yourself. I like to take my fun money out in cash so I know when I’m out. Some people spend on a debit card that does not allow spending past the limit. (Ask your bank if there have been any debit card fee changes, btw).

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Julie is a community outreach coordinator at ACCC. She teaches personal finance seminars at companies and non-profits to help empower as many people as possible! She believes that through financial education individuals can improve the quality of their lives by taking control of their finances and strengthening their financial futures.

About Blog

Talking Cents was created by the staff of the nonprofit organization, American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC). Not satisfied with providing credit counseling, debt management, and financial education alone, these renegade employees took to the blogosphere in the hopes of helping not only their current clients, but the rest of the world at large to tackle more of the topics affecting people’s everyday financial lives.